Extracts
from an affidavit of John Failing made in pension cases
February 1868
Donated by Nancy Machuga

War of 1812
Wayne County, NY Military History

Deponent
is now 76 years old, and resides in Jordan, N.Y. Before the war and long thereafter resided in
Lyons, Wayne County. During the war deponent belonged
to the militia and was a member first of Capt. Van
Anker's company and then of Capt. John Peacock's
company. John Peacock lived in Lyons and was a member
with his company of Col. Swift's Regt.
On or about the 15th day of Sept. 1813, orders were
issued to the members of the company by Col. Swift to
go into service on the western frontier at Buffalo;
the companies to assemble at Irondequoit at the mouth
of the Genesee River. Said company assembled on the
Pre-Emption about 2 miles south of Lyons, marched to
Canandaigua, where there was an arsenal, and where
we were mustered into service of the U.S. Remained
there 2 days and were discharged, having served in all
5 or 6 days.

In Dec.
1813 about the 12th or 14th deponent was
drafted out in Capt. Peacock's company, with many
others, to go to Buffalo. Deponent hired James Corwin
to go as his substitute and he (James) served as such
with Sgt. Thomas Dorsey under Captains Perrine and
Burnell.

In a
very few days, about Dec. 20th, the whole regiment of Col. Swift entered
service again and marched to Canandaigua, thence to the Genesee River as
far as where Rochester now stands....and then served 1 or 2 days again
and we were discharged and marched home because word was brought that the
British had crossed back into Canada after the burning of Buffalo. All of the said companies were in the service both of
these times. The way I fix the time of our service
the last time in Dec. 1813 is this: I have always
recollected that we got back home the night before
Christmas and from another fact that I went on
Christmas Day to the wedding of Peter Van Etten who
married a sister of Simon Pitcher.